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Russia has seized a fifth of Ukraine – Zelensky

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky says that Russian forces have seized 20% of his country’s territory, as Moscow’s invasion nears its 100th day.

Addressing lawmakers in Luxembourg, he added that the front line extended for more than 1,000km (621 miles).

“All combat-ready Russian military formations are involved in this aggression,” he told MPs via videolink.

Mr Zelensky’s address comes as Moscow intensifies attacks on the city of Severodonetsk in the Donbas region.

UK defence officials say that Russian forces have seized control of most of the city and observe that Moscow “continues to make steady local gains, enabled by a heavy concentration of artillery”.

Severodonetsk is the last major city in the region that remains in Kyiv’s hands and Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai said Russian forces were trying to break through Ukrainian defences in the city “from all directions”.

Mr Haidai said Moscow’s forces controlled around 80% of the city but Ukrainian troops had “carried out counter-attacks, pushing back the enemy on some streets and taking several prisoners”.

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He added that intense street-to-street fighting in the city had hampered evacuations, describing such efforts as “extremely dangerous”.

Some 15,000 civilians remain trapped in Severodonetsk, with many of them taking shelter at the massive Azot chemical plant.

On Wednesday, Mr Zelensky accused Russia of “madness” after its troops allegedly targeted the site during an artillery barrage.

The fighting comes as the mayor of the occupied city of Mariupol accused Russian forces of executing civil servants who have refused to collaborate with the new Moscow-backed city authority.

Vadym Boychenko, who was evacuated from Mariupol before it fell, said dozens of residents were being held at the Olenivka Prison and that he had received reports of locals being tortured by occupying forces. The BBC cannot independently verify these allegations.

Last week an adviser to Mr Boychenko told CNN that at least 22,000 people had been killed during the siege that reduced the port city to rubble.

Elsewhere, Russia wounded five civilians during missile strikes on cities in the Lviv region in western Ukraine, regional head Maksym Kozytskyi said.

And Moscow’s forces shelled the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, killing a woman and wounding a man, according to regional officials.

Western leaders are also stepping up sanctions against key allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

US Treasury Department officials unveiled a new raft of sanctions on Thursday, with targets including several yachts allegedly linked to Mr Putin and a cellist who allegedly acts as a middleman for the Russian leader.

US officials will seek to seize two vessels, the Russian-flagged Graceful and the Cayman islands-flagged Olympia, which were identified as personal assets of Mr Putin.

The cellist, Sergei Roldugin, is allegedly a custodian of the Russian president’s offshore wealth.

The 70-year-old was joined by five oligarchs with links to Mr Putin, as well as Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, who will all see any US assets frozen and are barred from doing business with American-based corporations.

EU diplomats are said to have finalised a sixth package of sanctions against Moscow.

The sanctions, which include a limited ban on Russian oil imports, were reportedly agreed after officials accepted a Hungarian request to remove the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, from the list of targets.

The president of the European Parliament also announced a ban on Russian lobbyists entering the chamber’s campus.

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Roberta Metsola wrote on Twitter that she was keen to deprive Moscow’s representatives of the ability “to spread their propaganda & false, toxic narratives about the invasion of Ukraine”.

A top aide to President Zelensky says the UK has agreed to supply the M270 multiple-rocket system (MLRS) to Ukraine, seen as a military game-changer by experts.

Andriy Yermak, Mr Zelensky’s chief of staff, wrote on Telegram that the weapons “not only help [us] liberate all our territories but also prevent many threats to the West”.

Slovakia’s defence ministry announced it would deliver eight self-propelled Zuzana 2 Howitzers to Ukraine.

The cannon, a modernised version of an older model, uses 155-mm rounds and has an effective range of 40-50km (25-30 miles) depending on the ammunition type.

And the Turkish drone manufacturer, Baykar, has donated a Bayraktar TB2 drone to Lithuania, on the understanding it will be given to Ukraine to help fight Russian forces.

Baykar said it had donated the drone for free so that money raised in Lithuania to buy it would be given instead as humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that the US would supply Ukraine with new long-range missiles capable of hitting targets at distances of up to 70km (45 miles).

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the US and its allies of intentionally prolonging the war and of “adding fuel to the fire” with the deliveries.

BBC

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Two Women Killed in Georgia Shootings as Nigerian-Born Suspect Faces Murder Charges

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Two Women Killed in Georgia Shootings as Nigerian-Born Suspect Faces Murder Charges

A 26-year-old United States citizen of Nigerian origin, Olaolukitan Adon Abel, has been arrested in connection with a series of shootings that claimed the lives of two women and left a man critically injured in the state of Georgia.

The incidents occurred across multiple locations, including DeKalb County and Brookhaven, sparking widespread concern among residents. Authorities have described the attacks as seemingly random, with no confirmed motive at this stage.

According to law enforcement officials, the shootings took place at a Checkers outlet on Wesley Chapel Road, a Kroger store at Cherokee Plaza in Brookhaven, and along Battle Forest Drive in DeKalb County.

Investigators were able to trace Abel through rental vehicle records, leading to his eventual arrest in Troup County. He is currently facing two counts of murder, along with charges of aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon.

During a court hearing on Tuesday, a DeKalb County magistrate judge transferred the case to a superior court after the suspect’s legal team waived a formal reading of the charges. Details regarding his next court appearance have not yet been disclosed.

Authorities also revealed that this is not Abel’s first encounter with the law. He was previously convicted of a felony in California in 2024. In a separate case last year, he was arrested in Savannah and later pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts of sexual battery. He was subsequently sentenced to 48 months’ probation, banned from the city for four years, and ordered to undergo a psychosexual evaluation.

Court records from Chatham County confirm that Abel is a United States citizen.

Police officials have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat, emphasizing that the suspect is now in custody. Investigations remain ongoing as detectives continue to analyze evidence to determine the circumstances and motive behind the attacks.

“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time,” a police spokesperson said, adding that authorities remain committed to ensuring justice and public safety.

 

Two Women Killed in Georgia Shootings as Nigerian-Born Suspect Faces Murder Charges

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US Senate Rejects Measure to Limit Trump’s Iran Military Powers

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US Senate

US Senate Rejects Measure to Limit Trump’s Iran Military Powers

The United States Senate has voted against a resolution that sought to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to carry out further military strikes on Iran without prior approval from Congress, in a move that underscores deep divisions in Washington over war powers and executive authority.

In a closely watched vote, senators rejected the measure by 52 votes to 47, effectively allowing the president to continue ongoing military operations against Iran without needing immediate congressional authorization.

The proposed resolution, introduced under the framework of the War Powers Act, was aimed at reasserting Congress’s constitutional role in decisions involving armed conflict. Lawmakers backing the measure argued that the escalating hostilities between the United States and Iran required clear legislative approval to prevent a broader and potentially prolonged war.

However, the effort fell short, with most Republican senators voting against the proposal, aligning with the president’s position that the executive branch retains the authority to act swiftly in matters of national security. The vote largely followed party lines, although there were notable exceptions. Republican Senator Rand Paul broke ranks to support the resolution, while Democratic Senator John Fetterman voted against it.

Supporters of the failed measure warned that allowing continued military engagement without congressional oversight risks setting a dangerous precedent and undermines the balance of powers enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. They maintained that Congress must play a decisive role in authorizing acts of war, particularly in a volatile region like the Middle East.

Opponents, however, contended that imposing restrictions on the president at this stage could weaken the United States’ strategic position and limit its ability to respond effectively to emerging threats. They argued that the commander-in-chief must retain flexibility to protect American interests and personnel.

This marks the latest in a series of unsuccessful attempts by lawmakers to curb presidential war-making powers in relation to Iran. Analysts note that the repeated failure of such measures reflects enduring political divisions and the challenges Congress faces in reclaiming authority over military engagements.

The vote comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, with concerns growing internationally over the risk of further escalation. While the Senate’s decision preserves the president’s current latitude to act, it also signals that the debate over war powers is far from settled, with the possibility of renewed legislative efforts in the coming weeks.

As the situation continues to evolve, attention is expected to remain focused on both the White House and Capitol Hill, where questions over the scope of executive power and the role of Congress in matters of war and peace persist.

US Senate Rejects Measure to Limit Trump’s Iran Military Powers

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Trump Claims China Agrees to Halt Arms Supply to Iran

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US President Donald Trump

Trump Claims China Agrees to Halt Arms Supply to Iran

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that China has agreed not to supply weapons to Iran, as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East.

In a statement shared via his verified account on X (formerly Twitter), Trump said he had secured an understanding with Chinese President Xi Jinping to prevent arms transfers to Tehran.

“They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran. President Xi will give me a big, fat hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well! Doesn’t that beat fighting???” Trump wrote.

He added a warning note on U.S. military strength, stating that while diplomacy remains preferable, the United States is “very good at fighting, if we have to — far better than anyone else.”

The remarks come amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty surrounding Iran and ongoing military developments in the region, which Trump referred to as “Operation Epic Fury.” However, no official confirmation has been provided by the U.S. government or international bodies regarding the existence or scope of such an operation.

Chinese authorities have not publicly confirmed any agreement to halt weapons transfers to Iran as of the time of filing this report. Analysts note that Beijing has historically maintained strategic and economic ties with Tehran, making any sudden policy shift significant if verified. Foreign policy experts have also urged caution in interpreting Trump’s statement, stressing that it reflects his personal account rather than a confirmed diplomatic agreement.

If substantiated, such an arrangement could mark a major development in international efforts to contain military escalation in the Middle East. China remains a key global player with influence over Iran, and any restriction on arms supply could affect the balance of power in the region. However, in the absence of independent verification, observers say the claim should be treated as part of ongoing political messaging rather than established fact.

Trump has remained an influential voice in U.S. and global politics, frequently using his social media platforms to comment on international affairs and ongoing conflicts.

Trump Claims China Agrees to Halt Arms Supply to Iran

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